Car-p-latform balcony



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. W. APPELMAN. GAR PLATFORM BALCONY.

No. 509,641. Patented Nov. 28, I893.

(No Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. W APPELMAN. GAR PLATFORM BALCONY.

No. 509,641. a Patented Nov. 28, 1.893.

ERASTUS W. APPELMAN, OF CLERMONT, IOWA.

CAR-PLATFORM BALCONY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,641, dated November28, 1893.

Application filed February 21, 1893. Serial No. 463,183. (No model.)

nTo aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASTUS W. APPEL- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Glermont, in the county of Fayette and State ofIowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-PlatformBalconies, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to car platforms of the ordinary type and has forits object to convert an ordinary platform to a balcony serving asimilar purpose as the vestibule, but without some of its objections;and the invention consists in the mechanical elements and combinationsset forth in the claims hereof.

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an end view of a car showing myinvention on one side only.Fig. 2 isa plan of a section of the car corner showing the invention.Fig. 3 is a side view showing the balcony folded up. Fig. 4 is a sideview with the balcony down. Fig. 5 is a detail side View showing thelinks connecting the floor plate. Fig. 6 is a plan of the floor plate.

In the drawings A designates any ordinary car platform to which there isthe front rail A.

B designates the end of the car, to which, on a level with the floor ofthe platform, there is fixed a hinge plate 13'. To this hinge plate 13'there is hinged afioor plate C which covers and uncovers the steps O andhas hinge lugs 19, 1), b engaging by means of the hinge pin 0 the hingelugs 12 ,12 of the hinge plate 13', and this plate 0' is provided with aprojection 0 which is provided with lugs 0 having a pivot c' engagingthe link D pivoted to rod D at d which rod D is held in a keeper d andis pivoted at d to a lever (1 on shaft 01 held in bearings (1 on the endof the car, and provided with an actuating handle (1 by which the deviceis operated.

To the outer edge and top of the plate C there are fixed railing posts Ewhich are firmly fixed to top of plate and connected by braces 6 andthese railing posts extend up and are fixed in a top rail E. To the twoforward posts E there is fixed an engaging clasp a with a notch 6 whichengages the front rail as the device is lowered into position of Fig. 4from Fig. 3. To the rear end of the rail E there is a projection eextending down to engage clip b fixed to the corner of the car and asthe device is lowered e engages 73 thus, when the device is in position,the rail E is supported at both ends. To the side of the car there aretwo supporting brackets which support the railing when in position ofFig. 3. On the hinge pin 0 of the plate C there is a coil spring C whichcounterbalances the weight of the plate 0' and railing E whichmaterially aids in operating the device.

The operation of the device is thus: The railing and platform are foldedback as in Fig. 3, while the passengers are boarding and when allaboard, the operator by the lever d pulls up the lever 01* and hence therod D' and the projection 0 lowering the plate O with its railing, theplate G covering the steps and its railing closing the entrance to thesteps, making platforms of the car as safe as the vestibule and muchmore pleasant in mild weather, and this railing being attached to theplate C and carried thereby, and the whole counterbalanced by a springas shown, makes it easy of operation and this device can readily beattached to any ordinary car platform, which is a desideraturn, and canbe operated from a convenient position for the operator.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A car platform having a plate pivoted to the car, covering anduncovering the steps, and said plate carrying a railing closing andunclosing the entrance to the steps, and the whole counterbalanced inits movement, to facilitate its operation, substantially as shown.

2. A car platform having a plate (3' covering and uncovering the steps,pivoted to the car, said plate carrying a railing closing and unclosingthe entrance to the steps, and the whole counterbalanced in itsmovements substantially as shown.

3. A car platform having a plate 0' pivoted to the car, covering anduncovering the steps and carrying a railing closing and unclosing theentrance to the steps, and the same connected to mechanism for operatingthe device in its movements, which mechanism is provided with anactuating handle f d located near the door of the car to be available toa convenient position of the operator.

4. A car platform having a plate pivoted to the car, covering anduncovering the steps and carrying a railing closing and unclosing theentrance to the steps by the movements of the plate, said plate andrailing operated in its movements by a link D, rod D, lever d shaft (1and handle d substantially as shown.

5. A car platform pivoted to the car,and carrying a gate which moveswith the platform through an arc of ninety degrees to the positionshown.

6. Acar platform pivoted to the car, and

carrying a gate which moves with the platform through an are or ninetydegrees-to the position shown and provided with actuating mechanismsubstantially as shown.

7. A car platform pivoted to the car and carrying a gate which moveswith the platform through an arc of ninety degrees to the Witnesses: I

F. W. ,HOSSFELD, FRED LARRABEE.

